Howard Joseph Arnott, California native and long-time Texan, passed away at the grand old age of 93 years on February 2, 2022, in Denton, Texas.  Howard was a third-generation Californian, born in Los Angeles, California, on March 9, 1928, to Andrew and Evelyn (Donnally) Arnott. After serving as an aerial photographer in the U.S. Navy from 1946-1948, Howard married Wanda Jean Cross in 1950, a union that would last for 68 years and produce four loving children.  Howard went on to earn bachelor's and master's degrees in botany from the University of Southern California (1952, 1953) and a Ph.D. in botany from the University of California at Berkeley (1958).  Dr. Arnott then embarked on a distinguished 50-year career as scholar and scientific researcher, including assistant professor at Northwestern University (1958-1964), associate professor and professor the University of Texas at Austin (1965-1972), professor and chair of the Department of Biology at the University of South Florida (1972-1974), culminating as Dean of Science and professor of biology at the University of Texas at Arlington beginning in 1974.  Dr. Arnott served as director of UTA's Center for Electron Microscopy from 1984-2008 and was awarded the title of Ashbel Smith Professor of Biology from 1991-1996 and Jenkins Garrett Professor of Biology from 1996-2008.  Dr. Arnott retired from UTA in 2008 and was named professor emeritus and dean emeritus in 2009.  Even after retiring, he contributed to numerous research projects including earthstars and the dendrochronology of bristlecone pine trees.

In addition to his distinguished professional career, Howard enjoyed pursuing diverse and eclectic interests including 60's folk music, big-game hunting, painting and writing.  Howard is survived by his son, John J. Arnott and his wife Elizabeth of Arlington, Texas, by his daughters, Catherine J. Arnott-Thornton and her husband David Thornton of Arlington, Texas, Susan L. Garrett and her husband David Garrett of Denton, Texas, and Virginia A. Scott and her husband Craig Scott of Port Aransas, Texas, as well as by 13 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Wanda Jean Arnott, and his mother and father.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 28, 2022, at 1:00 P.M. at the Dallas / Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas.